One of three men charged with murder in the drug-related killing of Nathaniel Tallman, of Lafayette, has taken a plea deal, and attorneys said investigators for the first time believe they know where the shooting took place.

On Tuesday, District Attorney Ryan Brackley said Russell Britton, 58, had pleaded guilty late Monday to being an accessory to murder and robbery and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

"From the very beginning, all of Boulder County law enforcement worked hard to solve this case and bring justice to the community," Brackley said. "The plea and sentencing of Russell Britton is just another step toward that goal."

Britton originally was charged with first-degree murder, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute 5 to 100 pounds, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute 5 to 50 pounds, in addition to the accessory and robbery charges. Those charges were dismissed under the plea deal.

Brackley did not comment on whether the plea deal means investigators suspect Britton was not the shooter.

The other two suspects, Daniel Ortiz, 38, and Moises Mendez, 26, are charged with first-degree murder, robbery and aggravated motor-vehicle theft.

As a result of Britton's plea and new evidence, Boulder District Judge Andrew Macdonald agreed to delay the rest of a preliminary hearing for Ortiz and Mendez from Tuesday until Aug. 4.

Among the new pieces of evidence was testimony by Britton that the shooting took place on his Berthoud property, according to defense attorneys.

The body of Tallman, 25, was found March 13 along U.S. 85 north of Lusk, Wyo., after he went missing Jan. 21.

Investigators said Britton claimed the day after the body was found that he had been preparing to meet Tallman for a marijuana transaction at his Berthoud home at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 when Mendez and Ortiz drove up in separate vehicles, with Mendez driving Tallman's car.

Britton told investigators Ortiz had what appeared to be a body wrapped in a tarp in his truck and that Ortiz and Mendez told him to get rid of the body. Britton told police he then drove to North Dakota and dumped the body along the way.

Ortiz's attorney, Matt Connell, said at the hearing Tuesday that while he hadn't had a chance to go over Britton's new testimony, he felt it would be another instance of Britton changing his story.

"It's yet another new version of the events coming from Mr. Britton," Connell said. "Our position is that (prosecutors) gave the wrong deal to the wrong guy, who implicated two men that are innocent so he could get a deal for himself."

Connell also said it was not surprising Britton knew where the shooting occurred.

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